Solopreneurship is about more than just working for yourself. It’s about using tech to build something bigger than yourself.To celebrate this, we’re introducing the Zoom Solopreneur 50: a national index of the most innovative independent business builders in the game. Hand-picked by a jury of industry leaders and academics, these 50 individuals are proving that “one person” isn’t just a headcount — it’s a powerful business model.
These founders aren’t just leading the way — they’re also the latest Zoom grant recipients, setting the gold standard for solopreneurs and showing the world what’s possible.
Cakes by Angela Morrison
Angela Morrison is an internationally recognized cake artist, educator, and product designer. She has developed over 328 unique cake designs and taught more than 20,000 students globally. Her innovative decorating tools are distributed worldwide. Named a Top 10 Cake Artist in the USA, Angela passionately fosters creativity and education within the global cake decorating community.
NKENNE
Michael Odokara-Okigbo is the founder and CEO of NKENNE, the leading African language learning platform. With over 400,000 users, he also leads NKENNE Ai to develop tonally sensitive translation models. Recognized by Apple and Google, Michael's incredible work focuses on expanding access to African languages through innovative technology and digital education.
Positive Equation
Dana Snyder is the founder of Positive Equation and creator of the Monthly Giving Builder. She helps nonprofits use modern digital marketing and storytelling to build reliable, recurring giving programs. A sought-after keynote speaker, author, and podcast host, Dana empowers organizations to attract supporters and fuel long-term impact.
The Owl's Nest
Worklution Inc
Rebellious Pins
Ambra Jordan is a solopreneur and senior product manager at GoDaddy. Passionate about helping entrepreneurs thrive, she has shipped impactful products for small businesses at top companies. Ambra also runs Rebellious Pins, an amazing pin and charm brand celebrating Black culture and identity. She channels her incredible business expertise into this deeply personal, community-driven creative venture.
Autistic Culture Institute
Dr. Angela Kingdon is an autistic advocate, author, and the founder of the Autistic Culture Institute and the Late Diagnosis Club. A late-diagnosed autistic adult, she creates incredible storytelling and community-based programs grounded in lived experience and research. Angela also serves as a peer support educator and youth counsellor, passionately championing neurodiversity and building supportive communities for autistic individuals.
Wexist
Anita Pingue is the founder behind WEXIST, a brand focused on solving the fashion gap for tall women. Offering essential clothing for women 5’9” and up, WEXIST is scaling into a global brand. Anita is deeply passionate about empowering tall women to feel confident, seen, and beautifully represented in the fashion world.
Planting People Growing Justice
Dr. Artika R. Tyner is an educator, award-winning author, and the founder of Planting People Growing Justice Press. She is transforming the publishing landscape to expand access to diverse children’s literature. With over 40 titles to her name, Dr. Tyner leverages storytelling to empower children to see themselves in books. She is deeply committed to advancing literacy, equity, and nurturing the next generation of leaders.
Whip It Goods Skincare
Ashley Morgan is the founder and CEO of Whip It Goods Skincare. She created her plant-based, clean skincare line after seeking safe solutions for her daughter’s eczema. Blending her products with hands-on, experiential workshops, Ashley prioritizes accessibility and community. With 20+ years of marketing experience, she is redefining skincare through incredible, personalized customer connections.
Ashunta Inc.
Emerald City Flowers
BrickRose Exchange
Newsberg Media
Siyanse
Grants For Creators
$NP Designs
MyBeeBear
Made to Measure Matching
Cafecito Social
Bullfrog Recruiting Solutions
Studiomatic
Rizo Radiance
Quest Craft
Kids Grief Support
Class Act Cats
Kiyamel Inc.
The Vegan Knife
Public Schools Raised Me
Hoopsy
The Scholarship Mama
The Traveling Black Women Network
Adinkra Charms
Floofah
In the Cut
Brown Girl Made That
Rooted Living
Chipmunk Robotics
Explanations From Exile
InterContinental Music Awards
MAUJH
Sips
Pamoja
Swelter Coffee Roasters
Louisiana Creole Candy
Otto's Grotto
WellBalance
The Mane Wildling
Our S.P.A.C.E. Studios
The Botanical Bar
applicants
states
industries
The Rise of the Solopreneur Report draws on findings from Zoom's first-ever Solopreneur 50 program, which attracted nearly 3,000 applicants across 48 states and 12 industries. By combining application data with founder insights, we offer an early look at a rapidly growing segment of the economy: solopreneurs.
CMO, Zoom
Kimberly Storin is Chief Marketing Officer at Zoom, where she leads brand, communications, product, and enterprise marketing. Before joining Zoom in 2025, she served as CMO at Zayo, building the company’s first marketing function and driving three years of revenue growth. She has held leadership roles at major Fortune 50 tech firms and began her career in M&A consulting at Deloitte. Kimberly earned a BBA from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from the University of Southern California.
Global SMB Advisor, Zoom
Lisa Scheiring is Global SMB Advisor and “Chief Solo Officer” at Zoom, focusing on how small businesses and solopreneurs use AI and digital tools to drive clarity and growth. With more than 20 years of experience building and scaling startups and established organizations, she is recognized for helping entrepreneurs adopt technology to operate more efficiently and effectively.
VP, Legal & Policy, Upwork
Patrick Hedren is VP, Legal & Policy at Upwork, the world’s largest human + AI-powered marketplace. He heads up Upwork’s engagement with government stakeholders globally and leads a legal team that advises the company on emerging issues involving AI, data, user safety, product, disputes, and risk. Prior to joining Upwork, Patrick held senior leadership roles at one of the nation’s most prominent industry groups, where he led the association’s Supreme Court and appellate practice and drove the industry’s engagement on regulatory and workforce issues. Earlier in his career, he served as senior counsel in GE’s Washington, DC office. He holds a B.A. and J.D. from the University of Minnesota.
Professor, Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business
Anita Williams Woolley is a Professor of Organizational Behavior at Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business. Her research on collective intelligence in teams and human-computer collaboration has been widely published and supported by DARPA and the NSF. She earned her doctorate in organizational behavior from Harvard University and serves as Senior Editor at Organization Science and founding Associate Editor of Collective Intelligence.
COO, Capital Department
Selma Studer is the Chief Operating Officer at Capital Department, bringing extensive experience leading marketing and communications for Fortune 500 companies. She holds a BA in Economics and French from Cornell University and an MBA from the University of Oxford, where she was a Saïd Foundation Scholar and Chair of the Oxford Business Network for Entrepreneurship.
To find the best of the best, the jury looked at every nominee through five key lenses:
Zoom’s mission has always been to connect people and enable new ways of working. With the ZSP50, we’re celebrating the innovators who embody that mission — running their entire business on connection, creativity, and courage.
Join us in recognizing the individuals who, on their own, are building what’s next.
If you have any questions, email us at solo@zoom.com.